Page 60 - 30NOV2018E

OPINION
DILEMMAS
HUMRA
QURAISHI
The Delhi-based writer
and columnist’s books
include Kashmir: The
Untold Story. She co-
authored a series of
writings with the late
Khushwant Singh and
her short stories are
part of anthologies.
The views expressed
are her own
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60-61 Opinion Humra.indd 2 11/16/2018
LITERATURE
Regional writers rarely
bother about publicity
Thoughts and views of the comparatively unknown but successful
authors need to be heard more often as they remain closer to ground Benyamin — who
realities of the rural areas of the country debuted with
Aadujeevitham
hough I keep myself far the trauma of a migrant worker in West ( Goat Days )
away from socialising or Asia. In fact, Jasmine Days also revolves
those endless interactions around life and times and struggles that that won him the
but Literature Festivals I migrants go through whilst working in Kerala Sahitya
do look forward to, for the the Gulf, far away from home. Perhaps,
T simple reason that one Benyamin has experienced much of that Akademi Award
gets to meet literary giants who insist on as he was earlier working as an engineer
writing in their mother tongue. They are in Bahrain but then quit to get back to his — was awarded
not bothered about publicity or fame but home State, Kerala, writing in that full a cash prize of
as they quip — we write for ourselves! -fledged way.
And this in itself seems a reason enough What I liked about him was his mod- `25 lakh, along
to meet them and hear their stark views esty which kept him from bragging with a trophy for
and viewpoints. about his writing prowess and popular-
At the recently concluded Bangalore ity. After lunch as we got talking, he told Jasmine Days
Literature Festival (October 27 and 28), me that though he was happy about the
I came across two extraordinary writers award but for him all that matters is
who write in their mother tongue and writing and that’s about it. He seemed
looked so content and confident. In fact, little bothered about anything else …and
it was during lunch at the opening day its just the writing alone that mattered.
of the Festival that I saw an introvert He also told me that his wife still works
looking person sitting right in front of in the Gulf as a nurse and their two
me. I began by asking him his name and children are studying in Kerala in a
then what he writes. All that he said boarding school.
was, “I’m Benyamin. I’m from Kerala. I And later that evening as he was up with having introduced the Muslim • Winner at last Malayalam writer Benyamin’s or aloofness. I suppose this is one of
write.” And when I queried still further there on the high stage with the Banga- ethos and culture into creative Kan- Jasmine Days wins first JCB Prize for Literature those essential traits to be able to write
and commented how difficult it gets to lore-based writer, Nandita Bose, inter- nada prose. And though he is famous from the heart and soul and with that
survive as a full-time writer, he just about viewing him in that conversation-style but was absolutely down to earth and connect with the masses. In fact, his
smiled and nodded and added, “Writ- relaxed way, he spoke more and some warm and friendly. The narration of the evolution of a session at the BLF with MS Sriram drew
ten some short stories and novels in more but again every word spoken with His wife was to join him later that great soul is simple, straight-forward, overwhelmingly large numbers; seated
Malayalam.” that mix of gentleness cum simplicity afternoon and he called her to carry unembellished but never simplistic. in the audience were even those like
It got rather obvious that he didn’t …as though he was in no mood to inflict one of his books for me. This is one It is written for children but when an me who couldn’t follow Kannada.
want to talk much and as both of us his views on the audience. That’s a differ- of his books on Mahatma Gandhi — adult reads it the child in him is alive I sit wondering why don’t we hold
focused on food, there was a slight dis- ent matter altogether that the audience titled — Gandhi -from Monu to Ma- again. The Mahatma had also kept the regular and ongoing dialogues and
turbance as several other writers came was all there, hearing each and every hatma — which U.R. Ananthamurthy child Monu alive in himself until he discussions with the literary giants who
rushing towards our table, congratulat- word uttered by him. It was an interest- describes in these words — “Here is a died as a martyr. This is a unique write in the regional languages of the
ing Benyamin on winning the prestigious ing, informal interview …with that faint beautiful translation from the original biography of a great visionary of country? We will be blessed if we hear
Rs25 lakh JCB Prize for Literature, for his boyish smile playing on his face right Kannada narration of Mahatma’s life our times and it reads like a fairy their thoughts and opinions and views.
latest novel — Jasmine Days — translated through. written by Bolwar Mahamad Kunhi, tale.” They are close, or shall we say closer, to
from Malayalam to English by Shahnaz And the next day of the BLF, I met one of the most gifted storytellers of And what I found touching was ground realities and with that stark and
Habib. Kannada’s famous writer — Bolwar Kannada. to see this leading writer intermin- brutally honest about the realities of
It’s then I realised that he’s that Mahamad Kunhi. I had heard about this This is a story of the amazing evolu- gling rather too spontaneously with the day.
famous writer who had shot to fame former banker’s writings which focus on tion of a great visionary and freedom students and book lovers at the BLF
with Goat Days, a novel that focused on Kannada literature; he is also credited fighter of India, Mahatma Gandhi. …there wasn’t a trace of arrogance LETTERS@TEHELKA.COM
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